Make Time for Your Dreams

On my daily commute back from work, I always pass by an iconic sculpture of a man lying half submerged in the ground. It is a sculpture named “The Dreamer” by David Phelps and installed in 1989 in the Woodlands, at the intersection of South Panther Creek and Woodlands Parkway. Seeing the person in a dreamy state with inner peace and tranquility is a wonderful way to release any pressure one might have after a long day at work. Besides, we all have to dream first before dreams can come true.

Dreams can help relaxing and rejuvenating. Many of our dreams are the mind’s way of reflecting on the day’s activities and concerns. When we take the time to clear our mind during holiday breaks, there is less need to work through emotional clutter and clear out daily debris. With a relaxed mind, the chances are much higher that we would be blessed with dreams of pleasantries and happiness, rather than dreams that focus on emotional challenges and unnecessary dilemmas.?

Dreams can enhance creativity. One of the most cited dreams, at least for those who studied chemistry, is the story about how the ring structure of benzene was discovered by German chemist August Kekule, one of the principal founders of modern organic chemistry. It is said that Kekule dozed off while struggling with the molecular structure of benzene. He then saw atoms whirling and dancing before his eyes. The atoms then began to reassemble themselves into long rows that seemed to move about in a snake like motion. As he watched the snake dance, the vision progressed until the snake devoured its own tail. He woke up with a vision of how the benzene had a ring structure.

Dreams can help surface and process emotions. Dreams are not necessarily predictive but they are messages from our subconscious mind. I remember years ago that Grandma always told us that she had a dream that we would visit her every time we visited her. I was amazed at her dreams at the time but realized years later that she was likely thinking about us visiting often and having those dreams often. In another word, her dream did not produce these feelings or situations, the feelings and emotions produced the dreams. Someone once told me that a good sign that you had mastered a new language was when you started dreaming in that language. Many of my dreams are still in surroundings related to my childhood activities and rarely in English. Reflecting on the patterns of our dreams can help reveal hidden and subconscious feelings with or without our awareness.

I hope everyone, regardless of Thanksgiving was a holiday for you or not this week, had a relaxing week with sweet dreams, and everyone feels rejuvenated and recharged for the rest of the year.

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